Gadgets News (232)

NVIDIA has a new entry in its SHIELD line of products with the simply named SHIELD. We already have the SHIELD Portable and SHIELD Tablet, but the SHIELD is an Android gaming/TV console that can stream TV shows, movies, and games at up to 4K resolutions. The SHIELD runs on the new NVIDIA Tegra X1 processor, which features a 256-core Maxwell GPU and an eight-core 64-bit ARM CPU, along with 4K support at 60Hz. It is NVIDIA's most powerful Tegra processor yet.

The SHIELD supports 5.1/7.1 audio over HDMI, features an HDMI 2.0 port so it can output 4K at 60Hz, has two USB 3.0 ports and one micro-USB 2.0 port, and includes 802.11ac 2x2 MIMO. It also has Bluetooth 4.1/BLE, 16GB of internal storage, a microSD slot that supports up to 128GB cards, and a Gigabit Ethernet port so it can be hard wirded. Oh, and the GPU features 3GB of VRAM, so it certainly doesn't lack in that department.

This Android-powered console is the gateway to NVIDIA GRID, the company's game streaming service that it calls the "Netflix for Games." It is powered by a team of GeForce GTX GPUs to deliver games to you at 1920x1080 with 60 frames per second. More than 50 games can be streamed with GRID, like Batman: Arkham Origins, Metro: Last Light Redux, and more, with new games added each week. Additionally, GRID can purchase and stream games coming out later this year, like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Batman: Arkham Knight.

Along with NVIDIA GRID, the SHIELD can play the hundreds of Android games already available, including over 50 titles optimized for the SHIELD itself. Games like DOOM 3: BFG Edition, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, and Crysis 3 are among those 50, with NVIDIA promising fast speeds thanks to that Tegra X1 chip. To play all these games, each SHIELD comes with a SHIELD controller. A remote control can be purchased separately, as well as extra controllers and a vertical stand for the SHIELD.

Both the NVIDIA SHIELD and NVIDIA GRID will launch this May, with the SHIELD coming in at $199. NVIDIA GRID is subscription-based, with a free tier to simply play those 50+ games, and a premium one that lets you buy and stream games immediately. The exact subscription price is not known at this time, but expect that information before long.

Since the release of the Amazon Echo, users of the device have been unable to control streaming music through applications like Spotify without a phone or tablet nearby. That has now changed, thanks to the latest update to the personal assistant offered by Amazon. The update allows users to control iTunes, Pandora, and Spotify with their voice, eliminating the need to use a phone or tablet to control song choices. As before, music streaming must still be initiated from a phone or table, but the additional voice control capabilities add a nice touch to the Amazon Echo.

Along with additional voice control capabilities, the latest update to hit the Amazon Echo provides increased response speed and accuracy for various questions, extended coverage of facts sourced from Wikipedia, new spelling words and definitions, and a new "Simon Says" mode that repeats whatever is spoken after the phrase.

It was reported last November that Walmart was expected to sell their own streaming stick, known as Vudu Spark. According to the retail giant, the Vudu Spark is now available to purchase at select Walmart locations and through the company website for $24.95. The device connects to a television via HDMI, comes with a dedicated remote, and is powered via USB, though no power brick is included with the device. The Vudu Stick also supports 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, video resolutions up to 1080p, and 7.1 surround sound. Unfortunately, the device only supports Vudu and does not allow other applications or services to be installed, according to the included user manual.

Although the Vudu Spark is certainly catered towards individuals who religiously utilize Vudu, Walmart is hoping that the device will sell well with its aggressive pricing as well as the $25 Vudu credit that customers of the device are eligible to receive.

Cree, a multinational manufacturer of semiconductor light-emitting diode materials and devices, has introduced a line of connected LED light bulbs. The bulbs, which offer 815 lumens at a color temperature of 2700K, can be turned off, on, and dimmed from a smartphone or tablet and any ZigBee controller. Due to their intriguing price of $14.97 each, Cree is hoping that consumers purchase the newly revealed connected LED light bulbs instead of installing physical switches or dimmers into their homes.

The connected LED light bulbs from Cree will first be available through the Home Depot website in the near future, and at a later time will be available at physical Home Depot locations.

Devices that plug into a TV are becoming more and more popular, with items like the Google Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV Stick leading the way. At CES, Intel showed off its version of a TV stick, but it is a little different than the Google and Amazon offerings. The size is still the same as those (think a large stick of gum), but the Intel Compute Stick is effectively a computer that plugs into your TV's HDMI port. One version runs Windows 8.1 and another runs Linux, with both being powered by a quad-core Intel Atom Z3735F Bay Trail processor. Down the road, newer processors like the Intel Broadwell Core M series could find their way into the Compute Stick.

The Windows 8.1 version comes with 32GB of storage and 2GB of RAM, while the Linux versions just has 8GB of storage and 1GB of RAM because of the OS' smaller operating footprint. A microSD slot can expand the storage on either one, so you aren't limited to the stock amount. It connects to the TV via an HDMI 1.4a port, can stream media over 802.11b/g/n WiFi or Bluetooth 4.0, and includes both a full-size and micro USB port for even further connectivity. The Compute Stick does require a micro USB cable for charging, since it can't run entirely off the HDMI port alone.

Intel's Compute Stick will arrive this March, with the Windows 8.1 version priced at $149 and the Linux at $89.

The first version of the Kinect for Windows has proved amazingly popular since its initial release, with owners using it for a wide range of applications, such as unique motion tracking and facial recognition. Despite this, Microsoft has revealed that it is officially discontinuing the original Kinect, as the company will stop offering the Windows device once the current stock runs out. As such, users who are interested in the capabilities of the original Kinect for Windows, or who rely on the device for various needs, are being urged by Microsoft to buy as many as they require as quickly as possible. Fortunately, the latest generation Kinect, which is available for $199, provides a wealth of improvements over the original Kinect for Windows, such as enhanced body tracking, greater depth fidelity, full 1080p high-definition video, new active infrared capabilities, and an expanded field of view.

Although Intel missed the majority of the smartphone boom, with its competitor ARM powering the majority of the smartphones currently available, the chip manufacturing company is still highly interested in getting acquainted with the mobile market. According to sources familiar with the matter, the next version of Google Glass will feature Intel hardware inside, an effort that represents the business strategy Intel currently has in regards to the mobile sector. Intel plans to market the next version of Google Glass to work environments, focusing specifically on hospitals and manufacturing plants.

Neither Google nor Intel has offered any confirmation or denial of the report.

Amazon has just introduced Echo, a cylindrical device that acts as a personal assistant and a Bluetooth speaker. The latest device from Amazon is able to be asked to complete all sorts of tasks, such as set reminders, play music, read aloud the current news and weather, look up a variety of information, and even help solve problems. Echo is capable of listening to users after activated by a keyword, thanks to seven microphones found inside of the device that support beam-forming technology. Besides actively answering questions and setting reminders, Echo also acts as a music playback device with its built-in 2.5-inch woofer and 2-inch tweeter. Amazon Echo can stream music from the cloud, supporting services like Amazon Music, Prime Music, iHeartRadio, and TuneIn, and can also stream music from any application on a smartphone or tablet thanks to Bluetooth capabilities. Echo is constantly connected to the Internet through a home Wi-Fi network, which allows the device to include more features and services in the future as Amazon adds them.

Amazon Echo is set to cost $199 at launch, or $99 for Prime members, but is currently in an invitation mode. While invitations will be sent out in the coming weeks to interested customers, no ship date for the device has been officially released.

Walmart is expected to sell a Vudu streaming stick in the near future, known as the Vudu Spark, after the device popped up in the FCC database this week. The device, which will look similar to Amazon’s Fire TV Stick and Google’s Chromecast, will plug into televisions through an HDMI connection and utilize Zigbee RF as opposed to Wi-Fi Direct. Due to such, the device will likely not support any type of mirror functionality. The description of the Vudu Spark mentions that after initial setup, the device launches directly into Vudu, with no support listed for other applications or services. If the Vudu Spark does not support any other services, it will be interesting to see how well the device sells once it comes onto the market.

Although Amazon launched its Fire TV Stick just a few days ago, the device is already experiencing shipping delays due to its overwhelming popularity. At this time the Fire TV Stick is still set to be released on November 19, 2014, and customers who bought the device early will receive it on that day or the day after. For customers who ordered the device just a day or two after its launch, however, as well as customers who purchase the device now, the checkout page explains that Fire TV Stick is expected to arrive after January 1, 2015. An Amazon spokesperson revealed that while the company produced a large quantity of the Fire TV Stick, demand simply outpaced supply. The spokesperson stated that "We're excited by the overwhelming customer response and we have teams working hard to build more as quickly as possible."

Google held its first Project Ara Developers Conference in April, bringing mobile developers together to get a first look at the Ara Module Developers Kit (MDK). Today, Google announced its second conference, which will actually contain two identical full-day events in two different locations and time zones. "The first event will be on January 14, 2015, with a central site in Mountain View and satellite locations at Google offices in New York City, Buenos Aires, and London. We will then repeat the same agenda for our developer friends in Asia a week later, on January 21, 2015. This second event will be in Singapore, with satellite locations at Google offices in Bangalore, Tokyo, Taipei, and Shanghai."

While the primary focus of this second conference will be the next major release of the Ara MDK (version 0.20), Google will also demo the latest Ara prototype and developer hardware, along with the company's plan for a market pilot in 2015. The deadline to apply for either event is November 26, 2014. Anyone can apply, but as the conference is targeted at developers, each application will undergo a review process. The registration fee, if you are selected, is USD$25-$200.

Amazon has officially launched the Fire TV Stick, a smaller and more inexpensive version of the Fire TV set-top box that was released earlier this year. The latest device from Amazon competes directly with Chromecast and the Roku Streaming Stick, offering improved functionality for a similar price. Like its competition, the Fire TV Stick plugs directly into an HDMI slot in order to stream movies and music, but the device differs greatly from its competition with its internal hardware. The Fire TV Stick features a dual-core processor that is 50 percent more powerful than Chromecast, twice the amount of RAM as Chromecast, and 32 times the storage than the Roku Streaming Stick. All of these enticing hardware features allow users of the Fire TV Stick to download and play games from the Amazon app store.

The Fire TV Stick from Amazon, which comes with a 1-year limited warranty, will be released on November 19, 2014. The device is available immediately to pre-order for $39, and Amazon Prime members can purchase the Fire TV Stick for just $19 for the next two days only.

Fitbit, a company that specializes in wearable devices that track personal health activities, is set to lunch the Fitbit Surge in the coming weeks, according to leaked marketing materials. The new watch, which is being marketed as a "superwatch," includes technology dedicated to serious athletes that are looking to track activities and monitor various health metrics. The Fitbit Surge features built-in GPS tracking, PurePulse heart rate monitoring, activity tracking, smart notifications, sleep tracking capabilities, and wireless syncing. While the leaked Fitbit Surge is not technically a smartwatch, it does offer phone call and text notifications along with music playback support.

The Fitbit Surge is expected to retail for $249 and will come in three color options that include black, slate, and tangerine.

Chromecast continues to improve as a media streaming device as Google has revealed that it now supports WATCH Disney, Twitch, iHeart Radio, and DramaFever. With WATCH Disney, users can tune into a variety of shows, such as Girl Meets World, Doc McStuffins, and Star Wars Rebels, thanks to the new WATCH Disney, WATCH Disney Junior, and WATCH Disney XD apps. The Twitch application allows users to join 60 million gamers, including casual and professional, that enjoy watching and talking about video games. Music lovers will appreciate that the iHeartRadio application allows them to listen to more than 1,500 live radio stations located within the United States, as well as customized radio stations. For international television enthusiasts, the new DramaFever application provides more than 15,000 international drama TV episodes to watch on demand.

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus weren't the only pieces of hardware Apple decided to unveil today; the company also unveiled its oft rumored first wearable device. Opting to call the device Apple Watch instead of iWatch, it features a sapphire display with four sensors on the back and is reportedly accurate up to 50ms. Interestingly, it's not touch-only, containing both a power button and what Apple calls a "Digital Crown" – a hardware dial on the side that can be used to navigate menus, zoom into images, and more. It also features inductive (wireless) charging.

The Apple Watch comes in three finishes (aluminum, stainless steel, and 18-carat gold) and two sizes, in addition to featuring a variety of straps to choose from. However, the straps are proprietary and not standard, so don't expect to use one from your existing watch. As expected, the device has a built-in heart-rate monitor and fitness tracker, removing the need for users to carry around additional devices like a Fitbit. That being said, there is a major and unfortunate caveat – it requires an iPhone 5.

The Apple Watch ships with two dedicated apps, Activity and Workout. The Activity app is pretty interesting and acts like your very own personal trainer of sorts. The app measures the quantity of your sitting, standing, and movement on a daily basis and creates a regimen for you to follow. It features three "rings" on the display, each representing a specific task you must complete that day. When you complete a task, its ring disappears. One ring may require you to move at a pace above a brisk walk for more than 30 minutes, while another may require you to stand for one minute out of every hour during a twelve-hour period. If the Activity app notices you vegging out on the couch for too long, it may give you a gentle nudge to get off your lazy bum and do something.

Meanwhile, the Workout app is more like what you'd expect from a fitness tracker, and is obviously for when you truly want to exercise. You can set goals based on target of calories burned, time spent exercising, or distance covered. The app will keep you updated on your progress and monitor your heart-rate and movement activity. Both apps save their data to the Health app on your connected iPhone, where everything is aggregated. Thankfully, Apple allows third-party apps to access that data if you already have one you like to use. In addition, Apple has create a third-party tool called WatchKit, which will help developers integrate compatible apps with the Watch's Glances screen. For example, if you own an electric BMW, you would be able to check the charging status of your car right from your Apple Watch.

The Apple Watch is going to sell for $350 and is expected to arrive Early 2015.

Wearable technology is gaining popularity at an alarming rate as technology giants continue to reveal and release products, such as smartwatches, that fit into the category. ASUS has decided to follow in the footsteps of others, such as LG, Motorola, and SAMSUNG, and market its own smartwatch. The company has posted a teaser image of its upcoming smartwatch across various social media platforms. The sketching of the forthcoming smartwatch shows hints of a leather strap, stainless steel elements, and a screen that is slightly rounded on the corners. More details about the ASUS smartwatch will be revealed by the company at IFA in Berlin, which is set to take place on September 3, 2014.

Canalys, an analyst group that combines global coverage and local insight gained from offices in America, Europe, and Asia, has revealed that shipments of wearable devices are quickly increasing. The group estimates that 6 million smartwatches and fitness trackers were shipped by technology companies in the first half of 2014. Compared to the 300 million smartphone shipments in the second quarter of this year that number is quite small. However, compared to previous shipments of like devices, the estimate concerning smartwatches and fitness trackers for the first half of this year is a 700 percent improvement over last year.

Samsung currently is the worldwide leader in the smart wearable band market, in regards to the first half of 2014, but competitors such Motorola may change that statistic with the release of the Moto 360.

Those lucky enough to own Google Glass will soon see that contacts on the gadget are even easier to access than before. The update allows Glass owners to access all of the contacts on their phone, enabling 20 to be found by voice while the rest can be found with a simple swipe. Contacts can be messaged in a variety of ways as well, as options such as Hangouts, email, and SMS are now available upon tapping on a contact.

Android users will be able to see and use the improvements offered by the latest Google Glass update immediately, while iOS users will be able to do the same in about a week when the MyGlass app is updated.

PAPAGO!, an electronics company established in Taipei, Taiwan, has just unveiled a video contest in which three selected participants will win a GoSafe 200, with one of the three winners also receiving a $400 gift card of the company’s choice. The GoSafe 200 is the first slide out dashcam on the market and features a 140-degree angle of capture while supporting 1080 high-definition video. Those who would like to participate need to follow three steps, which can all be found within the PAPAGO! promotional video below. Contest rules and guidelines do apply, so potential participants should be sure to read them thoroughly on the PAPAGO! video contest website.

Chromecast has proved quite successful since its initial release, providing users of the device with media streaming capabilities for hundreds of available services. The device has been out for one year now, and Google is celebrating the anniversary by providing current and new Chromecast owners with 90 free days of Play Music All Access. The offer can be found by accessing the Chromecast offers page where owners of the device can use the website to generate a claim for the three months of free access to the Google music service. While current and new Chromecast owners are eligible for the offer, it does not apply to current subscribers of Play Music All Access.

While the Kinect that shipped with the Xbox 360 was compatible with PCs, the one that ships with the Xbox One is not, thanks in part to a proprietary connection. After the Xbox One controller finally received official Windows drivers last month, now Microsoft is readying Kinect for Windows v2 for public release. But don't get too excited just yet.

The Kinect for Windows v2 Sensor is priced at a whopping $199 on the Microsoft Store. This seems a bit at odds with the new Kinect-free Xbox One selling for $100 less than the one bundled with Kinect. The explanation (other than greed?) may be because this isn't really intended for public consumption just yet, but rather developers. Just look at the product description:

The Kinect for Windows v2 sensor gives developers more of the precision, responsiveness, and intuitive capabilities they need to develop interactive voice- and gesture-based applications for the Windows desktop and Windows Store. The v2 sensor is intended for use with the Kinect for Windows software development kit (SDK) 2.0. Learn more at the Kinect for Windows Dev Center.

Note: The Kinect for Windows v2 sensor does not ship with any software. It is intended for use with the Kinect for Windows SDK 2.0 (licensed separately) and will operate only with applications developed for Kinect for Windows v2. Developers can use the Kinect for Windows SDK 2.0 to build applications with C++, C#, VB.Net, Cx, or JavaScript.

So it's highly likely the price is inflated so mostly developers purchase one and not general consumers, similar to what the Oculus Rift has been doing with its dev kits. It's a little weird that Microsoft doesn't outright state that though. Nevertheless, considering there are no applications to presently take advantage of it, there's really no reason for anyone other than developers to buy one.

If I were to just rely on my memory for the number of devices I own that charge by USB, I would probably forget some, and I doubt this is unique to me. To help make sure you can always find a plug to charge from, Patriot has released its new FUEL Station mini charge base. With four USB ports it is able to charge up to four phones or two phones and two tablets at a time, from one wall outlet. To prevent your devices from being damaged while charging, the compact device has protection against over voltage, over current, over temperature, leakage, and short circuit. As the name implies, the FUEL Station mini is small enough to be thrown into a bag, so you can take it with you when you travel.

If this sounds like something you could use, you can get one right away. The MSRP is $29.99.

In an effort to boost sales of its Fire TV set-top box, Amazon is offering select Prime members a free 30-day trial of the device. Amazon is emailing various Prime members about the offer, explaining the terms and conditions of the trial period. If interested, Prime members who receive the email can opt to receive the Amazon Fire TV set-top box for 30 days free of charge, including shipping. At the end of the trial period, the Prime member can either return the device back to Amazon without incurring any charges, or let the trial lapse and receive a charge of $99 for the device. The offer is only available for a limited time, and Amazon Prime members who receive the trial invitation and are not interested cannot transfer the offer to anyone else.

If you use your smartphone as a GPS while in the car, but need a reliable way to keep it in place, LUXA2 has the solution. The company recently introduced its new H5-Note Car Mount Holder, which is an improved version of the original H5. LUXA2 kept the all-aluminum body to provide a sturdy and stable platform for your phone, but increased the holder to allow for smartphones with four to six-inch screen sizes. Visibility has also been increased, with the ability to rotate 360°, tilt 120°, or swing side-to-side 180°. LUXA2 made sure the H5-Note can be attached to both the dashboard or windshield to fit wherever is most comfortable for you.

The LUXA2 H5-Note Car Mount Holder is priced at $49.99, although availability was not mentioned.

Although a trial program was recently available for Google Glass that allowed potential buyers to try out the wearable technology for a small fee, potential consumers of the product have not been able to freely buy Google Glass until now. Google has just recently announced via Google+ that it is pushing the Google Glass Explorer program to the public. This means that any consumer can purchase the Google Glass Explorer edition for the asking price of $1,500, as long as the technology giant has them in stock.

While the offer is surely enticing to those who have been yearning to try out the wearable technology device, it is worth noting that the technology is in an early phase.

Razer unveiled its smartband known as the Razer Nabu in January of this year, and at the same time announced first quarter availability of the device. Although Razer still plans to bring the Nabu to market, it has delayed the smartband due to skin irritation concerns that have recently plagued the Fitbit Force. Razer has announced that it is working with medical professionals to put the Nabu through stringent tests that will verify that the smartband is fully certified as hypoallergenic, severely reducing the chance of the device causing any skin irritation.

Developers have received an email from Razer regarding the hypoallergenic tests, with information contained within the email pointing to a revised launch of late May or early June.

The device is powered by Android and HTML, includes a remote that features a microphone for voice controls, and supports Dolby Digital Plus surround sound. The Amazon Fire TV set-top box features powerful hardware such as a quad-core processor that features three times the processing power of Apple TV and Roku, as well as 2GB of RAM, which is four times the amount featured in Apple TV, Chromecast, and Roku. The device includes connectivity support for HDMI, optical audio, Ethernet, and USB. One of the technologies that makes Amazon Fire TV stand out over its competition, besides its hardware, is Advanced Streaming and Prediction, or ASAP, which adapts to viewing habits based on prior experiences and enables content to load immediately after selection.

The newest device from Amazon focuses heavily on being the multimedia hub of any living room, supporting various video streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, Vimeo, and more. Music streaming services such as Pandora, iHeartRadio, and VEVO are also natively supported. While the Roku does allow for casual gaming, Amazon is taking video games even further with exclusive video game titles and the Amazon Fire Game Controller, which can be purchased separately for $39.99.

Amazon Fire TV is available immediately for purchase for $99.00 from the Amazon website, which includes free shipping.

Last month, I told you about The Dash, a sweet pair of all-in-one wireless in-ear headphones developed by Bragi, that combines traditional headphones with fitness tracking and smartphone communication. At the time of that initial post, the Kickstarter campaign was approaching $1.7 million with over 8,000 backers. Now, with just one weekend remaining, The Dash is just shy of $3.2 million with over 15,000 backers!

While surpassing the $3 million mark is quite the accomplishment considering its initial goal of $260,000, Bragi is hoping for one last surge to achieve its $3,333,333 stretch goal. Probably not coincidentally, said goal unlocks three separate additions for all backers at the $179, $199, $239, and $499 pledge levels: the option to receive The White Dash or The Black Dash, four Kickstarter-exclusive colored sleeves in addition to the standard white or black, and The Leash for more adventurous backers, which connects The Dash ear pieces to a cord and clip.

The Dash Kickstarter campaign ends on Monday, March 31, 2014, at 9:59 AM EDT, so you have approximately 64 hours remaining if you want to grab yourself one and help achieve the new stretch goal. If The Dash is a bit out of your budget, there's also a contest on the Bragi Facebook page to win one of ten.

Google is constantly looking at ways to expand its mobile technology, such as Project Ara. This time around, Google seems poised to enter the wearables market with a project it's calling Android Wear. The project starts with watches, and they not only tell time, but work with a multitude of Android apps to keep you connected to the world at large. They can display text messages, check on status updates, do a bit of shopping, and, since this is a wearable device, keep track of your health and fitness. You can also talk to your watch to get information; simply say "OK Google" to check on recipes, see the latest sports scores, and plenty more, just like any other Android device.

There's still plenty more Google isn't telling about Android Wear and the watches, with perhaps the biggest being battery life. It wouldn't do you any good to have this really amazing watch that can't make it through a full day, but we'll just have to see what the power efficiency is like once that informaton comes out. We do know that Google is working with a plethora of companies to make the watches, including ASUS, Motorola, LG, Samsung, Intel, Qualcomm, Fossil, and more. You can expect these watches later this year, and possibly even this summer to coincide with Google I/O at the end of June.

It seems that Amazon is having a difficult time staying away from media outlets, as reports about a set top box, Android game console, video game controller, and increased Prime subscription costs have been all the rage lately. Now, Amazon is in the news once again, with reports that the company is working on a streaming stick of its own. The streaming media device will make use of an HDMI connection and stream content from multiple sources such as Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, and Netflix, which is similar to the Roku and Chromecast. It has also been reported that the streaming stick by Amazon will be able to stream games through its own servers that it controls around the world. The possibility is real, as Amazon already provides the Amazon AppStream service through its Amazon Web Services offering, which allows applications and games that are resource intensive to be accessed with very low latency from the cloud.

Could all of the rumors surrounding Amazon simply support one device that has yet to be released? Time will tell, but since Amazon has not officially announced the streaming stick that supports Amazon Instant Video, speculations are bound to continue.